As every home cook knows, only about half of the cooking process actually involves making food. The other fifty percent is comprised of cleaning up the aftermath of your cooking or baking frenzy. We always jump at the chance to reduce the amount of behind-the-scenes cleanup for our home-cooked meals, which is why we've recently grown so sweet on splatter screens. This humble kitchen tool goes a long way to prevent those little pops and splashes that can add up to a mighty mess at the end of the night. We've rounded up our favorite splatter screens to guard your kitchen surfaces from showers of oil speckles. Your steaks, bacon, and stir-fried veggies will taste even better knowing you have less cleanup later. BergKoch Grease Splatter Screen, 9.5″ An All-Star Splatter ScreenThink of this splatter screen as your trusty umbrella for oil showers. Best OverallFind on Amazon You may not have realized that “splatter screen” and “premium” could go together, but this model from BergKoch is here to prove you wrong. This splatter screen boasts of its top-notch German engineering, featuring a stainless steel body and ultra-reinforced joints for sturdy construction. The fine mesh screen allows steam to escape without letting oil splatter, and the four feet enable you to rest it on your counter without getting your surfaces greasy. Pros: Heat-resistant TPR plastic handle for safety Dishwasher-safe Available in multiple sizes Cons: Some find the mesh a bit harder to scrub squeaky clean Zulay Splatter Screen Simple ConvenienceAll-around performance makes this screen a great choice.Runner UpFind on Amazon Zulay’s splatter screen keeps it simple with a fine mesh screen and straightforward construction. The anti-slip handle is part of the durable V frame, which adds support to the screen. The resting feet allow you to easily flip the screen off of your pot or pan and rest it on your counter without dirtying it, while a built-in loop at the end of the handle makes for easy hanging storage. It’s also a great strainer and cooling rack for more lightweight loads. Pros: Lightweight construction Comes in different colors Dishwasher-safe Cons: The screen is slightly flexible, and some prefer a guard without any flexibility Beckon Ware Silicone Splatter Screen Can Stand the HeatMost splatter screens are made of metal, but this silicone screen brings heat-resistance and strength.Best SiliconeFind on Amazon Silicone is a kitchen material we love because it’s strong but won’t scratch other surfaces, which tends to be a concern with metal kitchenware. This splatter screen is crafted with food-grade silicone, meaning it’s easy to clean and is heat-resistant up to 445 degrees Fahrenheit. We like that this screen is more substantial and thicker and rests securely on pots and pans. Pros: Larger ventilation holes if you are cooking something that needs to let more steam escape Won’t rust like metal might after extensive use Sturdy enough to rest utensils on while cooking Cons: The plastic on the handle doesn’t create one solid chunk to hold onto, which might not be as comfortable in the hand FOXEL Splatter Screen The Best of Both WorldsThis splatter screen's strong stainless steel frame and mesh center are a winning combination.Best FoldableFind on Amazon For those who find the handle on many splatter guards problematic for storage reasons, the FOXEL splatter screen was made for you. The silicone-coated handle folds onto the screen so you can store it away easily, but also features a lock to keep it in place while your cooking. This screen also features a unique stainless steel frame that provides stability around its mesh center, making it a sturdy addition to your kitchen tools. Pros: Designed with three built-in “levels” for a lid-like fit on your pots and pans Dishwasher-safe Sturdy construction Cons: The extra weight needed for that secure fit make it heavier than the average splatter screen Homestia Grease Splatter Screen, Set of 3 A Great Look, in Multiple SizesThis set of screens are designed much like a normal lid, meaning you maximize space.Best SetFind on Amazon Sometimes you want a tool that feels intuitive and unobtrusive. We love that Homestia’s set of splatter screens blend naturally with our pots and pans by mimicking a normal lid design. It features sturdy rims and a handle in the center that folds up and down and makes for an even more compact and minimalist design. Pros: Comes in 3 convenient shapes that fit your various pots and pans. Especially convenient if you’re cooking several dishes at once Easy to store Dishwasher-safe Cons: No “feet” to rest these screens on Frequently Asked Questions I know the products say “dishwasher safe,” but is it better to wash it by hand? Stainless steel is one of the few metals you can feel safe to load into the dishwasher, unlike aluminum, cast iron, or copper. So yes, you can feel good about putting stainless steel splatter screens in the dishwasher. However, some dishwasher detergents contain harsh chemicals that may corrode the metal, so make sure to check yours to see if it’s appropriate. If you prefer to be on the safe side, you can feel free to wash by hand. There’s still splatter on my counter. Is the screen defective? Since you’ll still need to stir from time to time, and even fine mesh still has spaces for oil to escape, you’re bound to see some specks at the end of the day. But splatter screens cut the amount of wayward grease significantly and make your cleanup that much easier, providing an easy way to give your surfaces some extra protection with minimal effort on your part.